Diary of an Arcade Employee

Donkey Kong

Is there a better location to open up Funko’s new Retro Video Games mystery minis than the Arkadia Retrocade? From the arcade cabinet design of the packaging as well as the choice of iconic video games represented. I say it is in fact another example of why Funko is going to take over the world! So let us take a few moments and check out the Retro Video Games mystery minis!

First of all, the arcade itself didn’t pick up these blind boxes. These particular Retro Video Games collectibles all belong to Rhi, one of my co-workers at the arcade. Having said that…I will be totally shocked if the arcade doesn’t end up getting the full set.

Funko has yet to to fail to deliver the goods. With the likes though of Centipede, Q*bert, Dig-Dug, Frogger, and Mega Man. As well as our childhood icons from Ms. Pac-Man and Pac-Man, I think you’ll agree they knocked it out of the park.

I would add that the Retro Video Games Mystery Minis are a bit larger than the typical Funko mini offering. They don’t quite reach three apples high, but these Concord grape soda bottles should prove my point.

Also of interest is that while they are certainly blind mini boxes. You will in fact not pull a Q*bert out of a Dig-Dug box, etc. I have to say I really love this. It will help in filling out your collections quite a bit.

Of the 12 boxes that Rhi opened last evening. I think it is safe to say that Centipede is one of my favorites. The sculpt truly captures the menace of the side art from that classic game.

In addition to the joy of seeing the Retro Video Games mystery minis opened. It was Earl Green that had the bright idea of comparing them to the classic Coleco Doney Kong PVC collectibles.

If you are ready to add Funko’s Retro Video Games Mystery Minis to your own collection. You can totally hop on over to Amazon right this second and place your order!

It is a fact that the internet can be a most wondrous thing. Like when it gives us the opportunity to travel back to 1981. To get a fleeting glimpse at what video games were being offered at a 7-Eleven at that point in time. As in this case the video uploaded by Scott Evans acts as veritable time machine to glimpse some 1981 Video Games.

In addition to seeing and hearing for yourself that the kids of 1981 were definitely jockeying to get their initials on the high score board. It also seems they are more than a little curious as to why they are being filmed.

As can be seen the kids are patiently, or not in some cases, waiting their turns to play. Furthermore you will even hear one of them asking another if they want to play doubles. Which is answered with a resounding, no. Thanks to the use of the convex mirrors situated in the store, we also are granted a few glimpses of the layout of a 7-Eleven back in 1981.

Of course the sight and sounds of some of the titles of the Golden Age of arcade games is the real draw. Seeing these kids enjoying the likes of Atari’s Tempest, Nintendo’s Donkey Kong, as well as Williams Electronics’ Stargate.

I can only wish however that the video was a bit longer. But by all means I am extremely grateful that it exists at all to say nothing of the quality of the video itself. However after watching the video a couple of times in a row. I do find myself completely trying to decipher what this young boy’s T-shirt says.

Is it possibly “Lord Highscore”?

Here is a question though- since this is in fact 1981. Why don’t these kids have their Super Slurpee scratch off cards?

Earlier this afternoon, my fellow Retroist writer Hayden Yale was kind enough to give me the heads up on an awesome video by My Name Is Banks entitled “Donkey Kong Classic”.

Images courtesy of MyNameIsBanks.Com

I can tell you that in my youth there were many hours where I pretended to be scaling the construction site in an effort to thwart Donkey Kong’s kidnapping attempt…this included jumping over trash cans that were rolled down our hill…and I had the scrapes and bruises to show for my failed attempts. Although thankfully nothing quite as bad as what Mario, played by Banks, has to contend with as he faces off against Donkey Kong.

Watching this almost three minute short film, that took Banks about 9 months to complete might make you respect Mario/Jumpman’s bravery and skills a little more the next time you play the 1981 arcade classic.

I will admit that I am pretty much a sucker for anything that I might display in my home that will help to showcase what I love in retro pop culture. Of late I have found that perler bead artwork has been taking up more and more of my attention. Especially when it’s crafted by a talented artist like Madam FANDOM as you can see from her perler bead mobiles!

All images courtesy of Madam FANDOM.

While I would love to have this Donkey Kong mobile in the house…it just kind of has to go to the Arkadia Retrocade, right?

I found myself browsing the Toy Archive website recently and I happened upon these wonderful Topps Candy Arcade Games, released in the mid 80’s.

Donkey Kong and Zaxxon are both great games and I would have loved these cardboard replicas as a child! Obviously I needed to know more, and the internet served me well, delivering me to the CollectingCandy.com website which updated the list of released games to six, adding Q*Bert, Frogger, Centipede and Donkey Kong Jr. to the mix.

I’m sure the “multi-colored coated bubble gum” was a good reason to buy at the time but for me it would have been the “graphics on each box [with] characters right off the video screen”!